Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. With the PlayStation 4 officially announced, priced, and shown off, gamers such as myself are eagerly waiting its release later this year along with game developers and publishers. Excited for the public to experience their year’s worth of hard work, Guerrilla Games has spoken out on how the PlayStation 4 hardware is allowing their talented team to develop a more immersive gameplay experience. Allowing for approximately 60 high-detailed characters on the screen at one time, Killzone: Shadow Fall will deliver a more vibrant city than what was ever possible before the next generation hardware. Lighting is also greatly enhanced thanks to HDR lighting and the fact that the game is now running smoothly in full 1080p versus previously with 720p; the jump from PS3 to PS4 is simply monumental.

Arguably the most impressive title to release on the current generation of consoles, The Last of Us, has been in the media a lot lately not only because of the incredible experience it delivers, but because of Ellen Page’s distaste of Ellie’s resemblance. While Naughty Dog did not respond immediately, after a couple days, Naughty Dog finally responded to the situation on Twitter with “Wow! The reaction to @EllenPage’s AMA was overblown-After the announce trailer there WAS initial confusion leading us to revise Ellie’s look” While I do see the resemblance that sparked such topic, I once again do not see gamers confusing the two characters placed in two divergent situations.

Wrapping up Nick’s Gaming View, Twitch, the popular live streaming video platform geared towards gamers, has released its data statistics for the week of E3. Revealing the audiences for both Microsoft and Sony’s press conferences, Sony came out on top with 430,060 unique viewers compared to that of Microsoft’s 413,400. While the difference is barely noticeable, the fact that Sony also received more publicity during their PS4 unveiling than Microsoft’s event for the Xbox One, has me thinking that we may not see the same results witnessed at the beginning of the current console generation.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back daily for Nick’s Gaming View for your daily access pass to all things gaming.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Vita evolves from PS3 to PS4 in pocket, Star Wars: Battlefront begged for by DICE, and Ellen Page criticizes Naughty Dog over The Last of Us, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. Fergal Gara, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK, has spoken out on how the PlayStation 4 is transforming the Vita from a PS3 to a PS4 within your pocket. Thanks to required remote play with PlayStation 4 titles, gamers will have the ability to play their PlayStation 4 games anywhere on their Vita with a stable data connection accomplishing a feat that Sony’s competitors are unable to reach. It will be exciting to see the technology carry out shortly after the release of the PlayStation 4 and truly see if such technology improves the struggling sales of Sony’s PlayStation Vita.

The announcement of Star Wars: Battlefront from the team over at DICE came as a huge surprise during Electronic Arts’ E3 2013 press conference and has gamers, such as myself, stoked to see what DICE can achieve. The game is only in its very early stages at this point in time due to the recent acquisition by Electronic Arts, but DICE’s very own employees begged for the green light on the development of the title when hearing word that Electronic Arts was in the process of securing the deal. In development for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, we likely won’t see its release until late 2014 or even 2015, but with the team over at DICE behind the project, I am very confident in the ongoing project.

Wrapping up Nick’s Gaming View, Ellen Page, the Hollywood actress behind Jodie Homes in the upcoming Beyond: Two Souls, has released a statement directed towards Naughty Dog expressing her distaste over Ellie in The Last of Us. Stating “I guess I should be flattered that they ripped off my likeness, but I am actually acting in a video game called Beyond Two Souls, so it was not appreciated.” Up to this point, Naughty Dog has yet to respond to Page’s statement, but despite Beyond: Two Souls launching later this year, I don’t see gamers confusing the two characters involved in two vastly different experiences.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back daily for Nick’s Gaming View for your daily access pass to all things gaming.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. Just a couple weeks after Kojima appeared on Microsoft’s E3 stage after the unveiling of the new jaw-dropping Metal Gear Solid V trailer, Kojima has revealed his excitement for Microsoft’s SmartGlass feature and the new Kinect. Stating SmartGlass is something he’s “really looking forward to” speculation has risen as to whether or not Kojima is implementing support for his ongoing project. Kojima also complimented the new Kinect with “The Kinect itself brings a lot of different capabilities as well and I will like to see what I can do with the voice command, and the movement with the gestures and see what we can do with that,” Metal Gear Solid V still has awhile before launch and knowing Kojima, we likely won’t hear anything for awhile, but it seems as if Kojima has potentially thrown a few teases out there.

Continuing on Microsoft’s technological advancements, the state of Iowa has approved Microsoft’s $700 million investment in cloud services with a new data center to support Xbox Live and Office 365. With the push for cloud computing on next-generation consoles being stronger than ever, it’s clear Microsoft plans on investing substantially within the technology. Allowing online gaming to reach a point never before possible and being able to offload computations to the cloud, it will be interesting to see how the technology progresses over the years and see the technology enrich the gaming experiences further.

Wrapping up Nick’s Gaming View, with Gran Turismo 6 sliding onto store shelves in time for the holiday season, racing fans around the globe are anxiously waiting its arrival. Exciting fans even more, Taku Imasaki, Producer of Gran Turismo 6, has stated, “at least one additional track per month will be downloadable.” With over 33 locations and 71 track layouts already confirmed, that’s crazy to believe, but with the track record Polyphony Digital possesses, I wouldn’t be surprised to see such feat accomplished.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back daily for Nick’s Gaming View for your daily access pass to all things gaming.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Microsoft has reversed their once insane policies in place for the Xbox One, but how does it stack up to the PlayStation 4? THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. E3 2013 has come and gone and while I still have content releasing, we all know, for the most part, what to expect from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at launch. Both consoles have been priced, released a time frame, exposed their launch lineups, and Microsoft has even pulled back their ridiculous policies once in place for the Xbox One. Which console seems to be more attractive and likely to have the strongest first year?

As with any video game console, the better console is always determined by its game library. While the first year is usually always the slowest year of the console’s life cycle, both platforms have a quality launch lineup, but only one can be claimed the winner. When looking at the launch lineup of both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 outside of multiplatform releases, I’ve got to give the edge to Sony with DC Universe Online, Diablo III, DriveClub, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, PlanetSide 2, and Warframe all making AAA releases. Sure the Xbox One has Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, LocoCycle, Killer Instinct, Kinect Sports Rivals, and Ryse: Son of Rome launching day one, but I see a much stronger launch on Sony’s platform.

Microsoft’s reverse on their policies has certainly earned the company and the Xbox One much more respect, but indie developers are still complaining regarding the company’s openness to indie development. Sony on the other hand is receiving a healthy amount of praise and has actually designed an apartment to assist indie developers with development on the PlayStation 4. Also add the required remote play functionality into the mix allowing owners of both the PlayStation 4 and Vita to play their PS4 titles anywhere with a reliable data connection, and you have an experience Xbox One cannot achieve. Sure, the Xbox One looks to take multimedia entertainment to the next level, but guess what, when I am looking to purchase a console, I care about the games.

Lastly, Sony knocked it out of the park by announcing the PlayStation 4’s price at $399 compared to Xbox One’s $499. Sure the Xbox One will include the new Kinect, but for gamers like me who will rarely ever use the device, I’d rather just have the option of buying the additional peripheral. Also, with PlayStation Plus being $10 cheaper a year than Xbox Live, yet delivering much more free content across three platforms, I have to say Sony won the E3 2013 battle and the PlayStation 4 will likely outperform the Xbox One at launch and the entire cycle if Sony makes the right moves.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and if you haven’t already, please be sure to check out all of the E3 2013 coverage provided.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’m here to provide my top five games shown or talked about at E3 2013 that are crying to me once they release, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. After much self debating over what five titles stood out from the rest of the incredible E3 lineup, I was finally able to agree on a solid list in which I feel will deliver incredible memories and experiences upon release. Starting at number five, as fan of the Battlefield franchise, I fell in love with Battlefield 4. Running on the new Frostbite 3 engine, the game looks stunning on next-generation consoles and high-end PCs and confirmed to run at 60 frames per second on next-generation hardware, I am excited to see what DICE has in store to complement the incredible gameplay that has sucked me in.

Coming in at number four, Titanfall was a huge announcement during Microsoft’s E3 press conference. If any of Microsoft’s announced titles were to sell me on the Xbox One platform, Titanfall was certainly it from the team over at Respawn Entertainment. Merging first-person shooter madness with mechs and open scale, Titanfall looks like a release that will surely attract millions of online gamers and possibly be the next huge success under the Xbox One brand joining Halo and Gears of War.

Sliding in at number three, while no gameplay was shown, or even a new trailer at that, Grand Theft Auto V had a brief mention during Microsoft’s conference and Sony announced their very own Grand Theft Auto V PS3 bundle. One of, if not the last, title I purchase on the current generation of consoles, Grand Theft Auto V has had my attention since it was announced back in 2011. Confirmed to be the largest Grand Theft Auto to date and featuring three distinct playable characters, Grand Theft Auto V will surely be a title that occupies my time for quite awhile upon release.

Appearing at number two, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has had me itching for more since its confirmation from Kojima, but when it was revealed in full to start Microsoft’s press conference, I was left stunned. Featuring open world gameplay, visuals that set benchmarks, and dramatic sequences set to deliver a memorable experience, Kojima seems to have another mindblowing experience awaiting us, and I simply cannot wait to have my copy in my hands.

Finally at number one! What game could possibly exceed my excitement for Metal Gear Solid V? While it was a tough decision, I have to give it up to Bungie for their upcoming release Destiny. Grabbing my attention upon its announcement, the gameplay shown during the end of Sony’s E3 press conference left my mouth wide open having a hard time believing such creation was coming to life in front of my eyes. Featuring a Halo-like style with the openness of Borderlands, Destiny will be a game that could possibly make me disappear from society for an endured time.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back throughout the week for more of my E3 2013 coverage.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Nintendo’s E3 2013 performance is now up for my analysis after critiquing Microsoft and Sony, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. While leaving behind their tradition of hosting a full blown yearly press conference, Nintendo made sure to give their fans love with a collection of announcements through Nintendo Direct focusing on both the Wii U and 3DS. Kicking off Nintendo Direct, Pokemon X and Y for Nintendo’s 3DS was shown announcing the 18th Pokemon type, fairies. Effective against dragon-type Pokemon, Fairies are sure to add a twist to the game and prolong the enduring video game series. Super Mario 3D World was then announced for the Wii U stylized similar to that of Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS. Looks like your typical Mario platformer and will certainly be a hit when it launches on Wii U in December of this year. Mario wasn’t done as Nintendo then announced Mario Kart 8 featuring antigravity allowing gamers to drive upside down as well as the return of gliding from Mario Kart 7 and underwater racing and motorcycles from Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo then transitioned away from Mario with the announcement of Wii Party U featuring over 80 minigames and a board game structure similar to that of Mario Party with Miis rather than characters from Mario. Nintendo then disappointed by announcing the delay of Wii Fit U but justified the delay by stating they have integrated new ideas and features requiring more development time. Getting back to positive news, Nintendo took note of the many Miiverse users drawing and sharing artwork inspiring them to create Art Academy, originally a franchise exclusive to DS and 3DS. No release date was given, but Nintendo will release the art tools on their eShop sometime this summer. Nintendo then transitioned into third party releases trying to prove that despite the rough sales, third party publishers are still supporting the platform. Showing Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Batman Arkham Originsl Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The Director’s Cut, Disney Infinity, Just Dance 2014, Rayman Legends, Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Watch Dogs, and more, Nintendo wanted to make it clear that they weren’t the only ones developing blockbuster releases for the Wii U. Indie love was also given by Nintendo with the showing of Ballpoint Universe, Cloudberry Kingdom, and Coaster Crazy Deluxe. DuckTales Remastered was also shown along with Capcom’s upcoming Dungeons & Dragons brawler. Mutant Mudds from the 3DS is being remade on the Wii U and will feature bonus content and features exclusive to the Wii U. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, announced during Sony’s press conference, was announced for the Wii U as well as a new unique game by the name of Scram Kitty. A weird game called Spin the Bottle was briefly shown and then the once XBLA exclusive A World of Keflings was announced for Wii U’s eShop. Exciting fans of the Zelda franchise, Nintendo then showed off The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD for the Wii U set to release this October and confirmed The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds will launch exclusively on the 3DS in late 2013. Making a big announcement for the upcoming release of The Wonderful 101, Nintendo announced the game will support multiplayer supporting up to five players. Out of nowhere, Retro Studio announced Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze where the island has been taken over by a group of Vikings. Nintendo then made another huge announcement by announcing Bayonetta 2 as a Wii U exclusive and the game looks very enticing. Titled just “X” for now, Monolith Soft, the team behind Xenoblade Chronicles is delivering an RPG of massive scale filled with science-fiction cities populated by monsters. Scheduled to release at some point in 2014, I am definitely excited to learn more about the release. Nintendo then announced Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U with the return of all of the major characters plus Mega Man. New levels based on Punch-Out!, Animal Crossing, and Skyward Sword were shown, but other than that, details remained somewhat limited. Overall, I rate Nintendo’s E3 performance a C as I feel they did a pretty good job for not having a full blown press conference, but I would have liked to see a price drop, more blockbuster games, and a better unveiling of Super Smash Bros.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back throughout the week for more of my E3 2013 coverage.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

After analyzing and scoring Microsoft’s E3 2013 performance, I’m back to critique Sony and determine if Microsoft truly did “kill” their performance, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. Jack Tretton hit the stage and after their usual showcase video, PlayStation Vita was the topic of discussion. Announcing 85 brand new games would be making their way to Vita in 2013 including Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway, and more. The PlayStation 2 hits, God of War and God of War II as well as Final Fantasy X and X-2 were confirmed to release as HD versions on the Vita as well as the hit downloadable PSN release, Flower and Dead Nation. Making a huge Vita announcement, Sony confirmed Telltale Games is working on Vita for The Walking Dead franchise and revealed the next episode in the franchise titled, 400 Days, will be making its way to the Vita. In celebration of the announcement, Sony also confirmed The Walking Dead bundle including the Vita, entire first season of the game, the new episode, and exclusive bonus content. Sony moved on to discuss PlayStation 3 making it clear that the console had plenty of life remaining. Showcasing a new trailer for The Last of Us and revealing the release is the highest rated video game in all of 2012 and 2013 thus far, Sony emphasized the strength of the platform by also showing Puppeteer, Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, Gran Turismo 6, Batman: Arkham Origins, and finally Grand Theft Auto V. Along with the release of Grand Theft Auto V on September 17th, Sony has partnered with Rockstar Games on a bundle including a 500GB PS3, a copy of Grand Theft Auto V, and Sony’s surround sound headset Grand Theft Auto V-themed, for just $299. Sony then showed the PlayStation 4 console for the very first time and as one who saw it in person on the show floor, I must say I’m impressed by how sleek the console is despite the power integrated within. Confirming that 20 exclusives would release on the PlayStation 4 within its first year with 12 of those being new IPs, all of these games are being developed in-house. The Order: 1886, the ongoing project at Ready at Dawn, will be one of these new IPs featuring a steampunk-style art direction. Quantic Dream made another appearance with a new tech demo by the name of The Dark Sorcerer. Showcasing the same “old guy” shown during the PlayStation 4 unveiling. Sony went on to provide a deep presentation regarding their commitment towards indie developers with the announcement of The Witness, Transistor, Mercenary Kings, Octodad: Deadliest Catch, Ray’s Dead, Oddworld: New and Tasty and more. Square Enix then made a huge announcement by confirming Final Fantasy Versus XIII as Final Fantasy XV. Square Enix continued by announcing Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix collection for release on September 10th and then knocked it out of the park with the announcement of Kingdom Hearts III, a game I am very excited for. Ubisoft then took the stage to show off Assassin’s Creed IV running on the PlayStation 4, but experienced various freezes and difficulties causing a disappointing showing. Bethesda then hit the stage to show off The Elder Scrolls Online and announced a timed-exclusive beta for the PlayStation 4. Mad Max was then announced from the same team behind the Just Cause franchise with the PlayStation 4 receiving exclusive DLC. Sony then slapped Microsoft by opposing the many controversial policies in place for the Xbox One regarding the required internet connection, ability to share games and more by stating the PS 4 will not require or follow through on any of this. PlayStation Plus has also been enriched with now PlayStation 4 support on top of PS3 and Vita. PlayStation 4 will require players to be subscribed to PlayStation Plus to enjoy online multiplayer gaming, but at only $50 a year plus the insane amount of free content, everyone who purchases a PlayStation 4 should already have PlayStation Plus. On launch day, subscribers will have access to a special version of DriveClub, which will contain all of the features with sliced down content, but subscribers will be able to upgrade to the full version at a discounted price. Sony then ended strong with the first live action demo of Destiny which was simply astonishing and is easily my most anticipated game shown during E3. Mixing a Halo-like style with the openness of a Borderlands, I couldn’t be more excited for the release of Destiny and the PlayStation 4 platform will receive exclusive DLC. Sony then closed out the show by announcing the PlayStation 4 will be available in November at the incredible price of $399, once again slapping Microsoft in the face. Overall, I was impressed by the incredible performance of Sony and I give them an A-.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back tomorrow for my analysis of Nintendo.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I am back from the action-packed E3 2013 conference and am here to provide my detailed analysis of Microsoft’s E3 press conference and how they stacked up to my expectations, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. Microsoft kicked off the E3 madness with their annual E3 press conference and did a solid job of focusing on games, games, and more games. While multiplatform, the Metal Gear Solid V trailer was breathtaking and a solid start to Microsoft’s show. It was also nice to see Microsoft spending just a little bit of time on their successful 360 platform, although I feel the new design wasn’t really needed. Moving onto Xbox One, Ryse looks and plays well and as one who played at E3, I must say, this is one of those games that truly uncovers what these next-generation consoles are capable of. The announcement of Killer Instinct had the audience roaring in excitement, but when it came time to hit the show floor, the line to play was significantly shorter than any other Xbox One release. Sunset Overdrive was an interesting announcement, but not because of the game per say, the fact that the once exclusive to PlayStation studio, Insomniac Games is now making an Xbox One exclusive turned many heads and we’ll see upon launch if the cartoony parkour release gains any traction. Forza 5 now looks better than ever and takes advantage of an impressive AI system thanks to the cloud. Minecraft will unsurprisingly be making its way towards the Xbox One along with the previously released Quantum Break, which has attracted some interest from me, and a new title shown titled D4. Project Spark then emerged on stage providing an experience similar to that of PlayStation’s LittleBigPlanet, but much more open and capable of imagination. Microsoft has enriched the Xbox Live experience by announcing two free games each month to subscribers with Halo 3 and Assassin’s Creed II being the first package and by showing off the rapid ability of jumping between online games with friends. Microsoft has partnered with TwitchTV similar to how PlayStation partnered with Ustream proving that next-generation will be all about sharing and watching captured gameplay as a community. Crimson Dragon Reborn reemerged similar to Ryse and Capcom confirmed Dead Rising 3 as an Xbox One exclusive with a more open world approach. While not exclusive, The Witcher 3 was shown off utilizing SmartGlass and Battlefield 4 left me stunned with incredibly realistic gameplay and the announcement of timed exclusivity on a planned DLC pack titled, Second Assault. With Microsoft receiving an overabundance of criticism regarding their support for indie developers, Microsoft made an attempt by showcasing a few indie titles, but it was clear indie development isn’t a strong focus for Microsoft. Dropping the ball on their promise to show the ongoing project at Black Tusk Studios, a brief teaser clip was shown, with no information or details provided. Unsurprisingly, a new Halo was announced for the Xbox One set to release in 2014 with no details other than the fact that it will run at 60 frames per second exciting the millions of Halo players. Then it came time for price and release and Microsoft dropped the ball by announcing a price of $499! Releasing in November, sure it will include the new Kinect, but with the PlayStation 4 releasing in the same month at a full $100 cheaper, I could see Microsoft losing the launch phase vs. Sony. To close out the show, Respawn Entertainment, started by the talent over at Infinity Ward, announced Titanfall exclusive to the Xbox One providing a first-person shooter blended with mechs that cries out to me as a gamer. Definitely one of the most impressive games to me to be shown during the entire E3 show, Microsoft landed a huge deal with Titanfall and I couldn’t have really asked for a better conclusion to their conference. Overall, I feel Microsoft had a great conference despite the high price point and ignoring the entire debacle regarding required internet and the lack of being able to share games. I would rate Microsoft’s conference a solid B as I feel they have established a strong lineup for the Xbox One around its launch and made it clear that they are investing more into building and expanding their in-house studios.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back tomorrow for my analysis of Sony and Wednesday for Nintendo.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This is the last episode before the much awaited E3 2013 conference and I am providing my very own predictions on what Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, along with other companies will bring to attract the wallets of gamers around the world, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. Beginning with Nintendo, we already know Nintendo will not be taking part in their annual press conference as they have over the years, but Nintendo plans on still having a large presence with smaller media events along with their Nintendo Direct presentation. With the Wii U off to a rough start, I expect to see Nintendo announce a few large titles such as a new Super Smash Bros., Zelda, Mario Kart, Mario 3D platfomer, Metroid, and even possibly a new Star Fox. I also anticipate a price drop for the console to better target their consumers and make the Wii U more appealing for the holiday season. Nintendo may also announce a few other titles for their successful 3DS platform and possibly announce better integration with the Wii U.

With Microsoft, I see a heavy focus on exclusives for the Xbox One to back up their statement of killing Sony this coming E3. I expect to see Dance Central 4 emerge showcasing the new Kinect camera and its many technological advancements over the current Kinect, I believe we’ll see Ryse reemerge from its teaser trailer revealed during E3 2011 as an Xbox One exclusive, and I feel we are likely to see Banjo Kazooie fulfill the teased ‘historic Rare franchise’. Microsoft will announce a few third party exclusive deals on upcoming franchises and titles and may conclude the show with a teaser for a new Halo to bring the audience to its feet or possibly reveal Bethesda’s Fallout 4 along with announce the price and launch date. I expect Microsoft to showcase more of their entertainment features to attempt to prove why Xbox One really is the only box you need and for Microsoft to spend a little bit of time on the future of the successful Xbox 360 to build longevity for the platform.

Sony will come out full force with even more exclusives making their way towards PlayStation 4 around launch and next year. I expect to see The Last Guardian finally return as a PlayStation 4 release, Sony’s successful MLB: The Show franchise emerge to showcase the level of realism the PlayStation 4 will be able to deliver, along with many announcements regarding new franchises such as the already leaked Warrior’s Lair. I expect to see more in-depth demos of already announced titles such as inFAMOUS: Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Until Dawn and more, along with a few third party exclusive deals regarding additional content. Sony will finally show off what the console looks like and may announce the price and release date, if not, during the upcoming Gamescom. I expect Sony to announce a price drop for the struggling PlayStation Vita as well as show off Remote Play with the PlayStation 4 and potentially another feature we have yet to hear about along with announce a few new releases. Sony will also spend some time on the PlayStation 3 and make it clear that they are not giving up on their PS3 market.

Wrapping up Nick’s Gaming View, I see Electronic Arts showing off Madden NFL 25 running on the new consoles along with announcing a feature exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms. I believe we’ll see Battlefield 4 not only shown off during their own press conference, but Sony’s as well announcing some form of exclusive content or timed content exclusivity on the PlayStation platforms. We’ll also see the new Need for Speed Rivals shown off with an official release date for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Ubisoft will blow us away with yet another new franchise designed for next generation consoles and will show off their upcoming Assassin’s Creed IV and Watch Dogs running on next generation consoles. I feel Ubisoft will have a few other small surprises here and there but will rely primarily on a new unannounced title, Assassin’s Creed, and Watch Dogs.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and keep checking back throughout the week next week for my coverage of E3 2013.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Naughty Dog reveals The Last of Us multiplayer, PS4’s exclusive DriveClub receives more details, and Nintendo recalling one of Wii U’s models, THIS IS NICK’S GAMING VIEW!

Hello everyone and welcome to Nick’s Gaming View, you are here with your host, Nick McCandless. With the anticipated launch of The Last of Us less than ten days away, Naughty Dog has finally decided to remove the curtain from the title’s multiplayer with a reveal video including details on what gamers can expect to experience come June 14th. Featuring multiplayer that seems very much alike to that of Uncharted 3, The Last of Us integrates a unique online mode by the name of Factions. In Factions, players will pick between the Hunters or Fireflies with each player starting with a small clan of survivors. Your goal is to keep the survivors alive and accomplish growth through two modes. In Supply Raid, players will scavenge the area and fight to keep their team alive with a pool of twenty reinforcements. Once the reinforcements diminish, the match will lead into sudden death. In Survivors, there are no respawns and once you’ve been taken out, you are eliminated until the next round. It’s the best of seven rounds and whoever comes up on top is declared the winner. With June 14th right around the corner, I couldn’t be more excited to jump online after beating the campaign myself, and hope to see many of you online.

One title we’re sure to hear more about next week during E3, DriveClub, has unleashed small details preceding E3 such as the game not being about smashing others off the road, but not being a sim either. Lighting and reflections off of the car are said to be spectacular and showcase the many features and strengths of the PlayStation 4. Featuring heavy social integration, detailed implementation of the new DualShock 4, incredibly high attention to detail, amazing sound design, and much more, DriveClub is a title that continues to grab my attention and will surely be one of the first titles I pick up for my PlayStation 4 later this year.

Wrapping up Nick’s Gaming View, Nintendo has contacted retailers asking that they return all brand new 8GB Wii U basic models to Nintendo by June 18th. While Nintendo and its retailers refuse to comment on such actions, I have a pretty good feeling we’ll hear Nintendo close out the model during their upcoming Nintendo Direct and potentially announce a price drop for their 32GB model.

Well that concludes today’s episode of Nick’s Gaming View but be sure to follow me on Twitter @NickMcCandless and check back daily for Nick’s Gaming View for your daily access pass to all things gaming.

No Frames

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.